Debra McGrath

Debra McGrath is a Canadian actress and comedian.

Early life McGrath was born in Toronto to Anne (née Munro) and James McGrath Jr. She studied theatre at Ryerson Polytechnical Institute (now Toronto Metropolitan University).

Career

McGrath first started her career with three years as a member of The Second City in Toronto, Ontario, from 1983 to 1985, where she was a writer and actress, and eventually a director. She was best known for a take-off of Marilyn Monroe, and the song Condoms are a Girl's Best Friend. During the late 1980s, she appeared with Second City at anniversary, comedy festival and Club Soda performances. In 1989, she had a major role in Allan King's film Termini Station. She also appeared in Eugene Levy's 1992 TV film Partners 'N Love, in which she played a lawyer whose client's divorce was found to be invalid.

In 1990, with Linda Kash, McGrath co-created My Talk Show, a sitcom featuring a talk show broadcast from the host's basement. The series ran for one year, with fifty-nine episodes. ) and the show folded after one season. a send-up of a cable TV talk show that debuted in 1997. "McGrath is the other standout as Anita, by far the richest character in the film. Neurotic and condescending to everyone around her, Anita is quick to deliver zingers, then filled with regret for what she's said. McGrath is sharp and touching, surprisingly substantial in a film that's ultimately fluff." For this role, McGrath won the award for Best Performance in a Feature (Female) at the 2004 Canadian Comedy Awards.

Alongside Paul O'Sullivan, Rebecca Northan, Lisa Merchant and Peter Oldring, she received a Gemini Award nomination for Ensemble Performance in a Comedy Program or Series at the 19th Gemini Awards in 2004 for The Joe Blow Show.

With her husband, Colin Mochrie, and Deborah Day, McGrath co-created and starred in the CBC television series Getting Along Famously (2006), about a fictional couple who star in a 1960s TV variety show. The 2005 pilot show of Getting Along Famously was nominated for two Gemini Awards, including Best Writing in a Comedy or Variety Program or Series. She also starred in the children's series Seven Little Monsters (2000–2003), and in Little Mosque on the Prairie (2007–2012) in which she played Mayor Popowitcz. She co-starred with Spencer Rice in Single White Spenny in 2011.

In 2003, she formed a comedy troupe called Women Fully Clothed with four other Canadian comedy artists. Fellow cast members Kathy Greenwood, Robin Duke, Jayne Eastwood, Teresa Pavlinek and McGrath perform sketches about situations ordinary women face every day. One reviewer considered that "Although all five comedians have performance skills in spades, Kathryn Greenwood and Debra McGrath are standouts... the latter for her dancing skills. ... McGrath cuts a mean rug in her tap shoes, and her monologue in the routine about being on the phone with her mum and granny hit very close to the bone." McGrath left the troupe in the first half of 2009.

McGrath played Cornelia in the 2003 live-action films Eloise at the Plaza and Eloise at Christmastime. She has made numerous guest appearances on a variety of Canadian TV series and had a regular role in seasons one (2001) and two (2004) of Paradise Falls. She has also voiced characters in many other animated shows, including The Raccoons (1991), The Busy World of Richard Scarry (1993–1997), Stories From My Childhood (1998), George and Martha (Valerie Chuckles, 1999–2000), Babar (2000), George Shrinks (Mrs. Lopez, 2000–2001), Franklin and the Green Knight (2000) and Peep and the Big Wide World (2005–2007).

Personal life McGrath was formerly married to Dana Andersen. She married fellow comedian and Second City alumnus Colin Mochrie in 1989.

McGrath is related to Canadian actor Munro Chambers, as is her husband Mochrie by marriage. In a 2010 interview, Chambers stated:

"I could say many things... my uncle, for one thing, is Colin Mochrie. He's been my inspiration getting into the industry. He's my uncle-in-law; his wife is my dad's cousin. My dad and his cousin, they were kind of like brother and sister growing up, so he’s my uncle by law. We have a good relationship."

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1985 One Magic Christmas Mrs. Noonan 1989 Termini Station Liz Dunshane 1997 The Real Blonde Cis 2000 Franklin and the Green Knight: The Movie Warbler Direct-to-video Voice Credited as Deb McGrath 2002 Expecting Anita Writer - Dialogue 2005 Burnt Toast: The Argument Wife Video short2013 The Shaw Festival: Behind the Curtain Narrator Voice Documentary Credited as Deb McGrath Stag Biker Gail 2016 Duty Calls Drunk Short film2019 Home in Time Fran Short film Majic Truckspoor 2022 Junior's Giant Dale Short film; also writer and producer 2025 Magnetosphere Ms. Deering

Video games Year Title Role Notes 2018 Far Cry 5 Nancy Voice